Article carrier for velocipedes



Dec. 27, 1949 RHOER ARTICLE CARRIER FOR VELOCIPEDES Filed Feb. 23, 1946 Patented Dec. 27, l949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE i I V' y `r 12,492,595 I 'i ARTILECARRIER FOR vELooIPEDEs I v Lawrence Rhoer,Fort'Madison, Iowa Application February 23, 1946,1SerialNo. 649,540

My invention relates to an velocipede.

Article carriers for the use indicated have usually consisted ,of a basket permanently attached to the handle bars, i. e.,`steering handle, of the vehicle. vSuch permanent arrangement is objectionable because it is cumbersomeand detracts from the appearance of the velocipede when no articles are to be carried. It is more convenient andesthetic if the article carrier may be attached to the, bicycle only when such a device is needed, and readily detached when not required.

Accordingly, a principal object of my invention is to provide an,v article-carrying .basket which may be readily attached to and detached from the handle bars of a velocipede, and which basket includes means enabling rapid attachment and detachment without the use of tools.

Another object is to provide a basket as aforesaid which is light in weight, cheaply and easily constructed, while possessing the necessary rigidity and load-carrying characteristics necessary in a device of thatkind.

article carrier for a Still another object of the invention is to providean article 4carrier as aforesaid having means to carry bottles in a secure upright position.

Other objects of this invention will become apparent from the description and drawing, in which latter:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of my device shown attached to a bicycle;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view; Y

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing details of the basket bracket and connection therefor; and

Fig. 5 is a partial sectional view showing the means for securing a bottle in an upright position in the basket.

My invention is shown as exemplified in a basket having sides of wire mesh, although not necessarily limited thereto, the essential features of construction residing in the particular conformation and arrangement of the part forming the framework for the basket.

A preferred form of basket-supporting member or bracket Icomprises: a single piece of wire rod bent to include a U-shaped loop l I adapted to t with reasonable snugness around the rear of the usual post I2 which serves to support the steering handle or handle bars I3. At the ends of the U forming the loop I I, the rod is bent upwardly into two inverted U-shaped loops or hooks I4 and I5 adapted to extend over and partially embrace the horizontal portions I6 of the handle 6 Claims. (Cl. 224-41) bars I3 extending on either side of the post I2, the forward leg of the loops I4 and lI5 continuing forwardly and downwardly (Fig. 3) to provide the vertically extending portions II. The latter are then bent forwardly to provide the bottom supporting members I8 for the basket, and the forward end of each member I8 is bent upwardly to form the forward uprights I9. Attached, as by welding or otherwise, to the portions I'I and uprights I9 is the top frame member 22, rectangular in form as shown, and preferably fabricated from a single piece of wire rod welded at its abuttng'ends'. From the foregoing it will be noted that I have provided a' rigid frame of light weight adapted to receive the box-like basket proper 23, shown as being of wire mesh although capable of being made of wood, fabric, or any Aother material suitable for the purpose.

To provide additional support at the rear of the basket, I may attach to the lower end of the portions I1 a strut 25 having a deformed U- shaped portion 26 adapted to rest on the outside of the steering post housing 21, and whereby the additional support is provided without interfering with proper steering.

AThe article carrier is assembled with the vehicley by locating the same with the loops or hooks I4 over the portions I6 and the loop I I over the post I2. Strut 25 will take up the position shown. As thus assembled, the structure is self-supporting and under ordinary circumstances cannot become dislodged from the vehicle, as it will be clear from the drawing that the weight of the goods carried in the basket assists in maintaining such engagement. However, to insure positively against accidental dislodgment of the basket such as may occur if the vehicle strikes an obstruction, I provide (Figs. 1 and 4) a locking pin 3I adapted to pass in front of the steering post I2 and the loop II, whereby to key the carrier to the steering post. Further to insure against accidental dislodgment of the locking pin 3|, it may be provided with a formed wire catch 32 of resilient material having one end secured into an aperture 33 in the pin 3l and formed into a single resilient loop 34, the opposite end terminating in a hook 35 adapted to embrace a groove 30 in the pin 3|. By pressing upon the lower side of the catch 32, the :hook 35 may be disengaged from the pin 3| and the pin removed. Re-engagement is the reverse of the steps just explained.

To impart further utility to the carrier, I may provide on the inside of one of the vertical walls a plurality of U-shaped loops or staples 31, into the bight of each of which is inserted the laterally bent ends 38 of the U-shaped bails 39, and by means of which pivotal connection the bails 39 may be dropped into an out-oi-the-way position as indicated at 39a (Fig. 5), or raised into operative position for the reception of a tippable bottle or jar. Three such loops 39 are illustrated as attached to the rear wall of the basket, although it will be understood that more or less loops may be used, and that they may be attached in other positions` Moreover in the case oi a basket ntilizing wire mesh the ends of the hailsv 39 may `be` formed into loops pivoted on horizontal disposedV wires forming the mesh, thus resulting in a more economical construction. To avoid. oloiectionA able noise of rattle and to protect the nish of" those parts of the vehicle adjacent; the.k carrier; I* prefer to employ sections o rubber tubing, L0 at the mutually contacting portions.

From the foregoing it will be comprehended.-

that I have provided a rigid article-carrying container for a; veloeipedeaadanted; te be: quickly' engaged and; disengaged trom the vehicle and. having; relativen;V iew inexpensively constructed. parts..

While I. have shown a particular embodiment: of, myinvention, it. will be: understood, oi'f course. thatJ L do not wish tof be limi-ted thereto s naef, many modifications-may belmade; and Lthereteref contemplatej by the appended claims.to,cover,y anyY suc-h modifications as fall, within the true spirit and scope of my inventioni Having thus described my iriventinn,v what I4 claim. and; desi-re toe secure; by Letters laterttA isz.

1., An article carrier adaptedto be detachablyf secnredforwardly oi a. dirigibie velocipedehavi-ng afsteering post, steering handle bars disposed, forvvardly of: said post, and artubu'lan bicycle fra-me. head portion through which said steering pest,T extends, comprisinga basketxsupport: bent sfr as toi provide. a basketframey and twoI upwardly and rearwardlyextending,v U -shaped portions adaptedY to overlie and partially` to. embracesaid handle; bars, and horizontally andrearwardlyr extending, lil-shaped portionv encircling said steering post,A and a supporting memherv onv the rear oi. Said framehaving an integrally iormedportiencurved tle-embracing hingedly supported loops.

5. en articlel carrier adapted to be detachably secured forwardly of'a dirigible velocipede havinsa sa steering post, steering handle bars having their front pnrtions disposed forwardly of said post; and a tubular bicycle frame head portion through which said steering post extends, comprising a basket frame having four points of suppol-zt. namely aa. steeringeposteencircling loop,

two U-shaped portions overlying and partially embracing, said handle bars, at opposite sides of said post,Y :aty supporting member shaped so asta coniorm. to said frame head portion and adaptedto beA in; sliding Contact. therewith d. AnA article carrier asidened claim, 5, inr which the basket framesupports.l arbas-ket.

LAWRENCETRHOER REFERENCE CITED- The following references are of record in 'the le': ci? this: patent: 

